Folding tooth brush



- June 15 m7 H, G, MAYER 2,083,728

FOLDING TOOTH BRUSH Filed Nov. 25,- 1934 e [June is, 1937 umrao STATES.

PAT NT orrlca 3 Claims.

It is the object of my invention to produce a collapsible tooth brush which, when extended, will be adequately large and rigid for its intended purpose but which can be folded into a small 5 space to be carried in a pocket or purse. Among the more specific objects ofmy invention are to produce a construction in which the case which encloses the tooth brush when it is folded will act as a portion of the handle when the tooth l brush is extended. A further object of my invention is to provide a tooth brush of the kind described with a removable brush-insert or refill.

In carrying out my invention, I make the handle of the tooth brushin three parts, one of -whichis in the form of a casing open at one side. To oneend of this casing there is pivotally attached the intermediate portion of the handle which telescopically receives the third portion, the brush proper being removably 20 mounted in this third portion ofthe handle. The

relatively movable parts of the handle embody co-operating provisions which resiliently hold them in extended position but which can readily be released to permit the brush to be folded into 25 the casing portion of the handle.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an embodiment o! my invention: Fig. 1 is an isometric view showing the brush in extended condition;- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the ex- 80 tended brush; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the extended brush with parts thereof broken away; and\ Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. -2, showing the brush partially collapsed in dotted-lines and completely collapsed in full-lines.

The brush-body or handle illustrated in the drawing comprises three interconnected sections 10, II, and i2 which-may convenientlyvbe formed as sheet-metal stampings; The section in is in the form of a casing having generally parallel side walls It and open at one face between such side walls. Between the side walls i3 and at one end of'the casing "I, such casing is pivotally .connected to the intermediate section ll of the handler which-is generally of channel crosssection with the upper edges of the parallel legs of the channel being bent inwardly to form flanges ll. At its end adjacent the casing It, the section ii is provided withears l5 of circular conformation which are conveniently formed as continuations of the side walls of the section II and which are spaced apart a sufflcient distance to be snugly received between the side walls l3 of the casing i8. 1

55 The means for pivotally interconnecting the I brush-back 2 l (01. 185) casing it and intermediate section II of the handle may take various forms, that shown in the drawing comprising a post l6 which extends transversely of the section II between the ears l5 and which has in its ends axial screw-threaded openings for the reception of pivot screws i1 that pass-through suitably positioned holes in the side walls I: of the casing l0. As is clear from Fig. 2, opening movement of the intermediate section relative to the casing" is limited by the engagement of the endof the bottom wall of the section H with the end o'f the bottom wall of the casing ID. V

The outer section I! of ably of channel cross-section similar to that of the section H with the outer edges of its side walls bent inwardly to form flanges 20. The section I2 is slidably received within the section II the side walls of the two sections having a slight back 2| is provided on its opposite sides with slots 23 for the reception of the in-bent flanges 2|! on the section H, as is clear from Fig. 3. Provision is made .for releasably holding the brush in proper position in the handle-section H, the expedient shown in the drawing for this purpose the handle is prefercomprising notches in the flanges -positioned to receive slight projections 24 which extend outwardly from the bottoms of the grooves 23 in the Preferably, the brush-back is provided with a longitudinal slot 25 providing suflicient resiliency to permit the projections 2i to be forced into and out of the notches in the flanges 20; The side walls of the section i2 may continue around the outer end of such section in the formof, an arcuate flange 26 providing an abutment for the brush-back 2|.

when the brush is folded, the various parts occupy the positions illustrated iniull-lines in Fig. 4, the section II of the handle closing the open face of the'casing i0. To completelyclose the casing iii, the section ii may be provided with an arcuate closure member 30 extending between the circular ears l5 and conforming to their shape. I

' To open the brush, the section II is swung from the full-line to the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 4, and the section [2 is then moved outwardly in the section II .to the position illus- To aid in holding the casing if! and the intermediate handle-section in extended position,

7 one of the side walls l3 of the casing may be provided with an inwardly extending projection 3| adapted to be received .in a recess in the handle-sections are formed is sufllcient to permit engagement or disengagement of the projection 3| and its associated recess. The side walls I3 of the handle l0 may also be provided with ventilating openings 32. I

To replace the brush, the handle section I2 is held in extended position relative to the section I l, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and the brush is moved inwardly to the dotted-line position illustrated in that figure, where it lies wholly within the section' H. The distance between the flanges M of the section i I is somewhat greater than the width of the brush-back 2|; so that when the brush is in the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 3, it can be lifted out of association with the handle.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a collapsible tooth brush, a handle-section of channel cross-section having inwardly directed longitudinally extending flanges along its edges, a brush having a back provided with outwardly projecting longitudinal flanges slidably received beneath the flanges on said handlesection, and a second handle-section of channel flanges on said second handle-section being spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit said brush to be removed between them after having been slid from said first handle-section into said second handle-section.

2. In a collapsible tooth brush, a handle-section, a brush slidably mounted in said handle section, and a second handle-section movable relatively to said first handle-section, said first handle-section having an open end to permit said brush to be slid into said second section and said second section having a laterally directed opening through which said brush may be passed.

3. In a folding tooth brush, a handle-portion of channel cross-section having inwardly directed longitudinally extending flanges along its edges, a brush having a back provided on opposite sides with longitudinally extending grooves adapted to receive said flanges, the inner edges of said flanges being provided with one or more notches, and one or more projections formed in the bottom of the grooves in said brush-back in position to co-operate with said notches to hold the brush in place in the handle-portion.

HARRY G. MAYER. 

